Transaction Analysis Blog: Option Day Craziness Part Two by R.J. Anderson

Toronto Blue Jays Declined 2012 club option on RHP Jon Rauch. [10/31] Exercised 2012 club option on E6-R Edwin Encarnacion. [10/31] Bookmark Rauch’s player page if you think a volatile reliever example will come in handy this offseason. Rauch entered 2011 having tossed 50-plus innings with better than league-average earned run averages in five-straight seasons. True to form, Rauch did throw more than 50 innings, but his earned run average finished at 4.85. Blame it on the American League East, the Rogers Centre, injuries, or random fluctuation, just know that you have to explain why Rauch gave up more home runs in 2011 (11) than he did combined in 2009 and 2010 (eight). A group that should remain blameless is the Toronto front office. By declining the option, they save $3.5 million and could offer Rauch arbitration to milk his Type B status. Encarnacion struggled early, racking up more strikeouts (39) than extra-base hits-plus-walks (34) in the first half before turning ...